Ginger Berry Brew Food

GINGER BEER MARGARITA

Steps:

• Combine the tequila, lime zest, lime juice, orange juice and a few ice cubes in a cocktail shaker and shake for 10 seconds. Pour into a rocks glass over ice. Taste, and stir in some simple syrup if you'd like it sweeter. Top off with the ginger beer and garnish with a lime wedge.

HERBAL GINGER BREW

Steps:

• for syrup combine water and ginger in saucepan, simmer for 30 minutes.
• cool slightly and strain.
• add maple syrup, stir to mix.
• stir 2 tbsp of syrup into carbonated water, add lemon juice and peel.

HOMEMADE GINGER BEER

Steps:

• Put the ginger in a saucepan set over a low heat with the lemon peel, sugars and 500ml water and stir until the sugars have dissolved. Increase the heat to medium, then simmer for 15-20 mins, or until reduced and syrupy. Remove from the heat and leave to cool completely.
• Strain the syrup into a jug through a sieve lined with muslin. At this stage, you can transfer the syrup to a small sterilised bottle or jar and keep in the fridge for up to two weeks.
• Pour the ginger syrup into a large serving jug. Tip in the lemon juice, fill with ice and top up with the soda water. Serve garnished with a few mint sprigs.

GINGER BEER & TANGERINE GLAZED HAM

Steps:

• Put the gammon, onion, tangerine zest and star anise in a large pan. Pour over all but 100ml of the ginger beer and, if necessary, top up with water so the gammon is just covered. Bring to the boil, skim the surface to remove any fat, reduce to a simmer, then cover and cook for 3-3½ hrs or until the meat is tender. When the gammon is cooked, remove it from the pan. Reserve the cooking liquor and use to cook lentils (see 'Goes well with'). Cool, cover and chill at this stage if you want to prepare ahead - bring back to room temp before continuing.
• Heat oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 7. Carefully cut the skin off the gammon, making sure to leave a layer of fat, then lightly score the fat into diamond shapes. Place in a roasting tin lined with foil. Warm the honey, mustard and reserved 100ml ginger beer in a pan and boil until it thickens. Spoon over the fat, then stud a clove into the middle of each diamond. Bake for 20-25 mins or until the glaze has caramelised. If you did prepare ahead, add another 10 mins to the cooking time. Slice and eat warm or cold.